The island of Capri: One of the many stunning places to see while in Italy. Located off the southern coast, the gorgeous island is just a boat ride away from Naples or Sorrento and makes for a beautiful day trip or weekend getaway. (Photos taken this past August when my husband and I visited with some friends).
Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth “You owe me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky. – 14th Century Sufi poet Hafiz (Photo taken during my 2012 Thailand visit)
R E M I N I S C I N G Thinking back on an excursion my sister and I went on, located off the coast of Koh Samui, Thailand: It was a preserved national park and we spent the day kayaking, hiking alongside monkeys to the top of the mountain, and taking in the gorgeous views.
One of my all-time favorite destinations in Italy: Cinque Terre. Located in Liguria, Cinque Terre is made up of five small towns that span the northwestern Italian coastline.
“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” ― Michael Palin
“Oh the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
One of our favorite days trips from Milan is to the quaint little city of Cernobbio, located on Lake Como. It’s probably about a mile long (or less), sits right on the lake, and is beautiful year-round, especially in the summer months when you can walk through the little city, sit outside in a restaurant with a refreshing glass of Prosecco and delicious cheese platter, or sip on a cappuccino in a cute cafe. I took the featured photo after a hike up the mountain that brought us to this gorgeous panoramic view of Lake Como.
I’ve jotted down some thoughts from previous trips of mine as I’ve been there on holiday at different times of the year (and also lived there for a short period of time years ago). I’ve included lots of photos and maps since I’m a really visual person – so hopefully that will help some of you as well 🙂 Feel free to comment and/or ask any questions that come up and I’ll try to give you any insight I have.
The old summer palace (aka “Monkey Hill”) in the province of Phetchaburi, Thailand that was built by King Rama IV. The decor is a combination of Thai, Chinese and European styles and the final construction was finished in 1858. There’s a tram that will take you up to the palace as it’s situated on a hill – the only thing I’ll warn you of is that the palace in inhabited by monkeys that freely roam to and from, and enjoy stealing from unsuspecting tourists. Keep your belonging tucked away!
While visiting Sicily last spring we decided to check out the quaint little city of Taormina. The layout is unique as Taormina has a beautiful beach with gorgeous clear water, but the city itself is located on a mountain – so since there’s limited space for car traffic (and parking), there’s a tram available to transport people who have parked at the base of the mountain up to the top. It’s really an incredible place to visit – with lots of food stands on the side of the streets, plenty of cafes and bars, historic buildings and museums. I loved wandering down little alleyways (such as the one pictured) and stumbling on markets and treasures. Taormina is also famous for “aranchini” which is basically a fried rice ball stuffed with a variety of different things: my favorite is the mozzarella and spinach, but some have pomodoro sauce, mushrooms, ricotta, prosciutto and cheese, sausage, ragu… the options are endless!
Today was one of those gorgeous, crisp autumn days in Cernobbio (quite possibly our favorite little city/town on Lake Como). I had quickly snapped this shot as we were heading to the Wine & Food Style event that was being held at a venue across the lawn from this castle-looking structure – it was just too beautiful to pass up.
Delightfully Chaotic 